How would you structure learning user experience design?

User Experience is a great discipline to get into, especially right now. Hundreds of companies around the world have started applying UX principles in their processes and products, and many more are starting to “get” that UX, properly applied, adds tremendous value.

If I was just now getting into UX, the first thing I would do is identify any particular areas of focus you may have. What do you like to do? If you like meeting and talking to people, you may want to pursue user research. If you are a detail-oriented individual, you may be better suited to detailed design and documentation. While it’s important to have a broad understanding of the discipline, it’s also important for you to find your “niche” and get very good at it.

I’m a big fan of learning by doing, so I’d recommend getting and internship. Two former interns I managed ended up having very successful careers (one with CNN), and I’d like to think that my mentoring helped them along… if just a little bit. The thing that is great about interning is if you fail, it’s OK… and learning from failure is one of the best ways to learn, in my experience.

Look for conferences that has good beginner tracts, to pick up on different techniques and ideas.

Joseph Dickerson

Joseph Dickerson is a user experience professional and UX Lead for Microsoft based out of Atlanta, GA. He has implemented processes in user testing, design and ethnographic research and provided design and consulting services for many different projects and organizations.